Component identification and tracking system for telecommunication networks
First Claim
1. A communications system configured to carry communications signals over a communications network, the communications system comprising:
- a communications component of the communications network;
an identifying element disposed at the communications component; and
a mobile device that is configured to scan the identifying element;
wherein the identifying element includes information about connectivity of the communications component, information about the communications component, a link to a website, and a link to an application for downloading to the mobile device for managing the information about connectivity of the communications component;
wherein the mobile device also is configured to communicate the information about connectivity to the management network.
16 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Identification elements (e.g., tracking elements, tracing elements, locating elements, etc.) (22A, 100) are provided on various communication components (20, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 35, 36, 40, 42, 48, 49, 60, 62, 64, 120) provided within a communication network such as a fiber optic network or a copper network. Fiber optic hubs 20 can be identified and/or managed. Data centers (110) with patch panels (120) can also be identified and/or managed. Example passive identification elements include bar codes (e.g., 2d barcodes) and radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. In certain embodiments, RFID tags and the bar codes can include network information included therein. In certain embodiments, bar codes can be used to direct technicians to network links at which additional information stored elsewhere is provided. In certain embodiments, identification elements can be provided on communication components through an application downloaded to a mobile device by scanning the bar code. Such application on the mobile device can then be used to manage the network connections, change the network connections, or check the status of the network connections. Multiple mobile devices can be used and synchronized together with a central application, website or network. One example bar code useful for reading information from a network device and linking to a management application is a QR code (100).
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A communications system configured to carry communications signals over a communications network, the communications system comprising:
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a communications component of the communications network; an identifying element disposed at the communications component; and a mobile device that is configured to scan the identifying element; wherein the identifying element includes information about connectivity of the communications component, information about the communications component, a link to a website, and a link to an application for downloading to the mobile device for managing the information about connectivity of the communications component; wherein the mobile device also is configured to communicate the information about connectivity to the management network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification